IMSA German Teacher Wins Prestigious National Award
For Immediate Release, November 2000
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AURORA — Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) German teacher and Aurora resident John Stark recently was named Outstanding German Educator at the annual meeting of the American Association of Teachers of German, Inc (AATG). He is the only high school German teacher in the country to receive the award.
Stark also was presented with the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Scholarship during the AATG's Annual Meeting in Boston November 17, 2000. Both awards are given in recognition of personal innovation, talent, and leadership which reflect uncommon excellence. The Outstanding German Educator Award has been presented annually since 1989 by the AATG. Recipients are nominated by their chapter presidents in recognition of: service to the language teaching profession; participation in professional organization; contribution to German language education and continued growth as a German educator.
Three awards are given yearly at the Annual Meeting: one to an elementary, middle or junior high school instructor, one to a high school instructor and one to a college/university instructor.
As a result of winning the award, Stark will receive a one-week Berlin seminar as well as roundtrip transportation sponsored by the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation. The Berlin State House of Representatives started the foundation to support friendly German-American ties in the future.
Stark began the German program at IMSA in 1986. On the national level, he has been one of the AATG professional consultants since 1988. He currently serves on the AATG Technology Task Force and an AATG committee to establish guidelines for National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification for teachers of world languages. He also is on the editorial board of Die Unterrichtspraxis, a journal devoted to the teaching of German.
Located in Aurora, Illinois, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) is an internationally-recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State to develop talent and stimulate excellence in teaching and learning in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. More than 14,000 teachers and 20,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from IMSA's professional development and enrichment programs. IMSA serves the people of Illinois through innovative instructional programs, public and private partnerships, policy leadership and action research.